Electrical interrupter device.



G. H. NORTH.

ELECTRICAL INTEERUPTER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 190s.

1,021,88 1 Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

CHARLES HOWARD NORTH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTH ELECTRICCOMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRICAL INTERRUPTER DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Y Application filed November 16, 1908. Serial No. 462,806.

the county. of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricalInterrupter Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electrical interrupter devices,and more particularly to apparatus of this character adapted for use inconnection with'the signaling bells upon harmonic telephone lines. Thesebells preferably are rung by battery currents applied either directly tothe line, or transmitted through a converter in the well known manner.With selective currents, however, it is desirable to adjust thefrequencies of interruption, and to simplify the apparatus, which issubjected to continuous and severe usage, in every possible way.

My present improvements relate to certain novel mechanical features withrespect to the mounting of the vibrating member; the mounting andadjustment of the contact springs and the co-acting contact member, andthe adjustment of the frequency of the vibratory member. These featureswill be more fully explained in connection with the accompanying sheetof drawings, where- 1n:

Figure I is a plan view of an interrupter device, constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. II is a side view thereof, one of the.electromagnets being removed, and the base portion broken away toillustra'te certain of the features. Fig. III is an enlarged detailslightly broken away showing the mounting and means of adjustment forthe contact springs. Fig. IV is a detail showing one of the springguards, Fig. V illustrates one of the contact springs itself. Fig. VI isa side view showing a vibratory member with its contact and adjustingmeans. Fig. VII shows a heavier adjustable screw therefor. Fig. VIII isa detail illus trating the adjustment of the magnet poles; and Fig. IX,a diagram showing the preferred circuit connections of the interrupter.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, I have employed thesame. character of reference to indicate similar parts The vibratorytongue or member a, is

provided at its extremity with a weight a, and preferably with anadjustable screw and lock a. The latter, as best shown in Figs. VI andVII, comprise an inner tapped member secured at the ends of wires a, anda thumb-screw, which may be of the required weight, insertible therein.Said vibratory member preferably comprises a curved or looped wire,securely anchored at its rear extremity and carrying between theparallel bars, a contact arm a which with the, weight a, are riveted inplace thereon, as best shown in Fig. VI, although my invention is notnecessarily limited tothe details above set forth.

By reason of providing the adjustable screw and look a, inasmuch as saidscrews are made of different weights, there is obtained, withinrestricted limits, a corresponding adjustment of the rate or frequencyof vibration of the tongue or and its contact-arm a resultant from theslight change in the center of gravity secured by inserting diiferentadjustable screws a". These thumb-screws and looks a", as shown in thedrawings, are of the simplest form and are inserted longitudinally ofthe tongue at to insure the desired adjustment and frequency ofvibration.- The principal weight a, however, preferably is stationarilyriveted upon the looped wire, constituting the vibratory tongue a.

The electro-magnet b 6, preferably is compositely wound, as indicated inthe diagram, Fig. IX, the connections thereof affording a series-shuntarrangement adapted for connection with the primary of an inductioncoil; the windings 6 being in series relation with windings brespectively upon each limb of the electro-magnet. The construction andoperation of the foregoing circuit connections are described and claimedin the patent to Engle, No. 921,601, May 11th, 1909, in connection withthe structural improvements of my invention herein set forth andclaimed. Reference may be had to said patent for ascertaining theparticulars, inasmuch as they form no part of the improvements hereinset forth. Y

The contact arm a extends upwardly in a position to engagealternatively, the contact springs c a, mounted respectively inspring-guards upon a plate surmounting the electro-magnet. Thesespring-guards d, together with their respective springs, are

d As shown, each of the contact-springs,.

i which under constant use is liable to deterioration, in consequence ismade readily.

removable, butthe circuit terminals 1, 2, are permanently connected withthe respective spring-guards, as best shown in Fig. III, so that theconnections with the springs may be 'readily made and broken uponsecuring them in their respective saw-cuts. These springs have anormal-inward set, as thus secured, and are withheld from convergence bymeans of'the slotted terminal arms (1 upon the spring-guards, which,however, permit the outward flexure of the springs. The base of theinterrupter. device is suitably chambered to contain the condenser 6.With the foregoing description in mind, the purposes and advantages ofmy improved constructionwill now be briefly explained. 1

In practice, each of the interrupters, upon installation is connected incircuit as shown. The adjusting screws 9 g, are separated to such anextent that neither of the contact springs a 0 is in engagement with thevibratory contact a One of these screws, as g is then turned until thecontact spring 0 is brought into engagement with the contact of thevibratory member, whereupon it will start under the impulse 6f but asingle. magnet. This screw is then turned back slightly, say to theextent of one quarter turn, and the opposing screw g is then turneduntil the contact 0' similarly is brought into engagement with thecontact of the vibrating member, whereupon this screw is also set 1n itsadjusted position and the interrupter device continue normally under theimpulse of its shunt windings. It will be seen, however that with aslight bias, the vibrating member may be actuated by a single'electro-magnet, but preferably I employ the arrangement herein setforth. v

The pole pieces f of the electro-magne may adjusted within their slidesz toward and mm the vibrating member by means of th rotary eccentricparts f. Said slides i are ormed upon the supporting plate 5, whileeccentric; is rotatable within 'a recess f provide .upon one side ofeach pole 55 p'ce f. The parts are maintained in their adjusted positionby nut 71. The vibrating finember, which is securely anchored. at itslooped or inner end, under the impulse of the electro-magnet, isoscillated in'ac'cordi'w ance with the frequency to which the individualinstrument is adjusted, thereby making and breaking the circuit betweenthe contact arm a and contact springs c c. The rate or frequency,however, is subject to adjustment within small limits by means of magnthe screw members a", .and the mounting of the contact arm a, preferablyis ara-mag-' netic and serves as an armature or the vibrating member.This, by reason of-its loop construction and firm anchorage, isespecially sensitive to impulses from the electroetand accuratelyvibrates in unison therewith, transmitting current over the circuit withwhich the instrument may be connected or it may be otherwise applied.

. Having 'now explained the features of my invention, I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, the following 1. In anelectro-magnetic appliance, the combination with an actuatingelectro-magnet, of an armature,- a supporting-part and a vibratorymember comprising a loopedwire free at its outer end and securely heldat its looped end by said supporting-part;

said looped wire carrying the armature at 'a distance from its loopedend, operatively positioned before the, poles of the electromagnet,substantially as set forth.

2. In avibratory electro-m'agnetic appli- I ance, the combination. withan actuating 'electro-m'agnet, of its armature, a rigid supporting-partand a vibratory meuntingfor the armature comprising an extended arm freeat 'its outer end and an attachin loop secured at the other end withinsai supportingart, whereby" the rate of flexure is rendered uniform,substantially as set forth.

3. In a vibratory electro-magnetic appliance, the combination with anactuating electro-magnet, of its armature,'a rigid supporting-part, avibratory mounting for the armature, comprising an extended arm free a-tits outer end and a rearwardly secured loop held within saidsupporting-part, whereby the rate of flexure is rendered substantiallyuniform, and means for adjusting the frequency ofthe armaturesvibration, substantially as set forth.

4.111 a vibratory electro-magnetic appliance, the combination with anactuating 'electro-magnet, of its armature, a stationarysupporting-part, a mounti for said armaits outer extremity and arearwardly secured loop held within said supportingpart, whereby therate of flexure is rendered substantially uniform and means associatedwith the free extremity of said arm for adjusting its rate of vibration,substantially asset forth.

5. In a vibratory electro-magnetic appliance, the combination with anactuating electro-magnet, of its armature, a stationary supporting-part,a mounting for said armature, comprising an extended vibratory arm andarearwardly secured loop'rigidly held Withinv said supporting-part,whereby the rate of flexure or vibration is rendered substantiallyuniform, a contact-member also carried by said arm and angularlyextended beyond its plane of vibration and a co-act ing contact adaptedto be intermittently engaged thereb substantially as set forth.

6. In an e ectrical interrupter appliance,

.the combination with an electro-magnet, of

a vibratory member comprising a looped wire securely mounted at itslooped end, a stationary support for saidlooped end, a contact-spring, acontact-arm and an adjustable weight respectivel mounted upon saidvibratory member a apted to secure the regulation of thevibratorymovement, substantially as set forth.

7 In an electrical interrupter device, the combination with a U-shapedelectro-magnet, of a vibratory member mounted adjacent to saidelectro-magnet, a support therefor, a contact-arm positioned upon saidmember between the limbs of said electromagnet and extending to a planeabove the electro-magnet and co-acting contact-springs positioned in anupper plane adapted to be engaged thereby, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electrical interrupter device, the

combination with an electro-magnet, of a vibrating contact arm actuatedthereby, a spring guard connected in circuit, and a removable contactspring mounted with v said guard in position to be engaged by thecontact arm, substantially as set forth.

9. In an electrical interrupter device, the combination with anelectro-magnet, of a vibratory contact arm actuated thereby, a saw-cutinsulating strip, a spring guard connected in circuit and mounted withinthe saw-cut, and an associated contact spring removably mounted in saidsaw-cut adjacent to its guard and in position to be engaged by thecontact arm, substantially as set forth.

10. In an electric interrupter device, the combination with anelectro-magnet, of a vibratory contact arm actuated thereby, a springguard, comprising a rearward portion connected in circuit, and anangularly extending slotted part, and a removable contact spring mountedadjacent to said sprlng guard with its end extending through the slottedpart in position to be engaged by the contact arm, substantially as setforth.

11. In an electric interrupter device, the comblnatlon with anelectro-magnet, of a vibratory contact arm actuated thereby, a springguard, comprising a rearward portion connected in circuit, an angularlyextending slotted part, and adjusting means associated with the springguard adapted to regulate its position, substantially as set forth.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with anelectro-magnet of the armature actuated thereby, a pole piece adjustablymounted adjacent to said armature, and a rotary eccentric memberassociated with said pole piece to secure its adjustment, substantiallyas set forth.

13. In an electro-magnetic appliance, the combination with an actuatingelectro-magnet, of a vibratory armature, an adjustable pole piecepositioned adjacent thereto, means for retaining it in line with saidarmature, and a rotary eccentric member associated with said pole pieceand adapted to secure the adjustment thereof toward and from thearmature, substantially as set forth.

14:. The combination with an electro-magnet, ofa contact-makingarmature, a contact-spring, a flexed spring-guard having a slotted endportion through which the spring extends, and screw-adjusting means forregulating the position of contact.

Signed at Cleveland, this 14th day of November, 1908, inthe presence ofthe witnesses below subscribing.

CHARLES HOWARD. NORTH.

Witnesses:

JESSE A. BUEL, V ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

